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14045 


Copyright. 1898,' by Henry Altemus. 








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JESSICA’S MOTHER. 


CHAPTER 1. 

GREAT PLANS. 

It was a gloomy Sunday in the gloomiest 
part of the year, when the fog hung over 
London day and night, only lifting itself 
off a little for two or thiee hours about noon 
time. The bells which rang from the 
church towers might have been chiming 
from some region above the clouds, so 
distant they sounded and so hidden were 
the belfries in which they hung. 

In the early part of the day the congre- 
gations went to and from their various 
places of worship, with a feeling of sombre 
depression at the long continuance of the 
gloom; but after nightfall the darkness was 
only natural, and though the lamps gave 
but little light, and shone merely like yel- 
low balls in the fog, the passengers in the 
street moved more briskly and talked more 
cheerfully than in the morning. Here and 
there the brilliantly illuminated windows of 


6 


JESSICA 'S MOTHER, 


some church or chapel cast a pleasant 
gleam upon the pavement, and the open 
doors seemed to invite any cold or weary 
passer-by to enter into its light and warmth ; 
but as if these buildings, the temples of 
God, were designed only for the rich, and 
for those who had comfort enough in their 
own dwellings, it was noticeable that but 
a very scanty sprinkling of worshippers 
dressed in vile raiment were to be seen 
among the congregations, though there was 
no lack of those who wore goodly apparel 
and gay clothing. 

The fashionable chapel of which Daniel 
Standring was the chapel-keeper was no 
exception to the general rule, for there were 
no poor to be found in it. There was 
within it every appliance of comfort and 
style such as could give satisfaction to a 
wealthy congregation. The oak pews were 
high enough for the head of an occasional 
slumberer to repose in quiet indulgence, 
and they were well lined and carpeted and 
cushioned. The shades for the lamps toned 
down their light to a clear, yet soft, lustre; 
and the apparatus for heating the building 
was of the most efficient kind. 

The crowds who flocked to hear the 
minister were increasing every Sunday, and 
Daniel Standring had, with some reluctance, 


JESSICA'S MOTHER, 


7 


yielded to the necessity of sharing his 
office of pew-opener with a colleague; a 
man, however, of less dignity and solemnity 
of deportment than himself, and who was 
quite willing to look up to him as a superior. 
Moreover, the old members of the church, 
the carriage people ” especially, recognized 
him only as their chapel-keeper, and en- 
trusted any message or any commission to 
him alone; and he also retained the charge 
of attending upon the vestry. The other 
man was no more than a subordinate; and 
after awhile he was reconciled to his divi- 
sion of office. 

There had been two things much talked 
about among the people for some time past : 
the first, that the minister himself should 
have a colleague found for him ; and the 
second, that a larger and still more fashion- 
able chapel should be built. 

As to the colleague there were several 
difficulties in the way, the chief one being 
to find such a preacher as would attract the 
same congregation as those which came in 
crowds to listen to the minister; for it was 
found that whenever it was known that he 
would be absent from his pulpit the num- 
bers dwindled away, until during his yearly 
holiday the chapel would seem almost 
empty, compared to the throng of curious 


8 


JESSICA ’S MOTHER. 


and eager listeners, who hung upon his 
words, and scarcely dared to sigh over his 
representations of their misery and peril, 
lest they should miss hearing a single sylla- 
ble of the eloquence which described it. 

Still every member of the congregation 
said it was essential that a colleague should 
be found for their beloved pastor before he 
had quite worn himself out ; and great 
blame was thrown back upon the small 
provincial church which five-and-twenty 
years ago had thrust him, a mere youth of 
twenty, upon the exhausting duties of the 
ministry. As for the second subject, it was 
settled without much difficulty, for only 
money, not a man, was wanted ; and upon 
the vestry table there was a subscription- 
list, already promising some thousands of 
pounds, and beside it lay the plans for the 
new chapel, drawn up by an eminent archi- 
tect. 

The chapel doors had been opened by 
Daniel, and the gas toned town to precisely 
the brilliance and softness which the con- 
gregation loved, especially the lamps on 
each side of the pulpit, which shed a reveal- 
ing light upon the minister’s thoughtful 
face, and upon his dark hair just tinged with 
gray. In the vestry Jessica had just given 
a final and delicate stroke of dusting, and 


JESSICA MOTHER, 


9 


was wiping the large pulpit Bible and hymn- 
book with her clean pocket-handkerchief, 
ready for Daniel to carry up into the pulpit 
while the organist was playing the opening 
voluntary, which he did with so solemn and 
ministerial an aspect, that a stranger, not 
accustomed to the etiquette of the place, 
might be betrayed into the supposition that 
he was the minister himself. 

Daniel was waiting now in the porch 
like some faithful steward, ready to receive 
his master’s guests ; and as carriage after 
carriage rolled up, almost a smile of satis- 
faction softened his rigid features. The 
minister’s children had passed him with a 
smile and a nod, and he had shut the door 
of their pew in the corner, so he knew that 
the minister was come, and putting a little 
additional briskness into his manner, he 
looked out for seats for the strangers who 
were filling the aisles, at the same time 
listening for the first notes of the organ. 

The minister had entered the vestry just 
as Jessica had finished wiping the imaginary 
dust off the Bible and hymn-book, and he 
drew his chair up close to the fire, as if 
coming through the fog had chilled him. 
He looked sad and downcast, and his head 
sank forward upon his breast. For a minute 
Jessica stood behind his chair in silence, and 


10 


JESSICA MOTHER. 


then she stretched out her hand, a small thin 
hand still, and laid it timidly upon his arm. 

‘‘Jessica,” said the minister, covering her 
small palm with his scholarly hand, “ I am 
sorrowful to-night, and I have great heavi- 
ness of heart. Tell me, my child, do you 
understand what I preach about in my 
pulpit? ” 

“ Oh, no, no ! ” answered Jessica, shaking 
her head deprecatingly, “only when you 
say God, and Jesus Christ, and heaven ! I 
know what you mean by them.” 

“ Do you ? ” said the minister, with a very 
tender smile; “and do I say them often, 
Jessica? ” 

“ Sometimes they come over and over 
again,” replied Jessica, “and then I feel 
very glad, because I know what you are 
preaching about. There is always God in 
your sermons, but sometimes there isn’t 
Jesus Christ and heaven.” 

“ And what do I mean by God, and Jesus 
Christ, and heaven ? ” he asked. 

“ I don’t know anything but what you’ve 
taught me,” said Jessica, folding her brown 
hands meekly over one another; “you’ve 
told me that God is the Father of our souls, 
and Jesus Christ is our elder brother, who 
came down from heaven to save us, and 
heaven is the home of God, where we shall 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER, 


11 


all go if we love and serve him. I don’t 
know any more than that.” 

It is enough ! ” said the minister, lifting 
up his head with a brighter look ; '' one 
soul has learned the truth from me. God 
bless you, Jessica, and keep you in his fear 
and love for evermore.” 

As he spoke, the deep tones of the organ 
fell upon their ears, and the vestry door 
was opened by Daniel, coming for the pulpit 
books. There was an air of solemn pride 
upon his face, and he bowed lower than 
usual to his minister. 

There’s a vast crush of people to-night, 
sir,” he said; the aisles and the galleries 
are all full, and there’s a many standing at 
the door yet who will have to go away, for 
there’s no room for them.” 

The minister covered his face with his 
hands and shivered, with the cold no doubt; 
and Daniel and Jessica were leaving the 
vestry when they were called back by his 
voice speaking in husky and agitated tones. 

Staiidring,” he said, I have something 
of importance to say to you after the ser- 
vice this evening, so come back here as 
soon as the congregation is gone. And, 
Jessica, take care to sit in your own place, 
where I can see you ; for I will preach 
about Jesus Christ and heaven to-night.” 


12 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER, 


Jessica answered only by a little nod, and 
left the vestry by a door which did not 
open into the chapel. In a minute or two 
afterwards she was making her way up the 
crowded aisles to her usual seat at the foot 
of the pulpit steps, where, with her head 
thrown back, her face lifted itself up to the 
minister’s gaze. 

She had just time to settle herself and 
glance at the minister’s children, who were 
looking out for her, when the last quiet 
notes of the organ ceased, and the vestry 
door opened. The minister mounted the 
stairs slowly, and with his head bent down ; 
but as soon as he was in the pulpit he 
looked round upon the faces whose eyes 
were all fastened upon him. 

Many of the faces he knew, and had seen 
thus upraised to him for scores of Sundays, 
and his eye passed from one to another 
swiftly, but with a distinguishing regard of 
which he had never been conscious before, 
and their names swept across his memory 
like sudden flashes of light. There sat his 
own children, and his eye rested fondly 
upon them as they looked up to him ; and 
he smiled tenderly to himself as his glance 
caught the flushed and fervent face of 
Jessica. 

The sermon he had prepared during the 


JESSICA MOTHER, 


13 


week was one of great research, and of 
studied oratory, which should hold his 
hearers in strained and breathless attention; 
but as he bowed down his head in silent 
supplication for the blessing of God, he said 
to himself, I will preach to this people 
from the saying of Christ, ' He calleth His 
own sheep by name, and leadeth them 
out/ 


CHAPTER II. 
it’s only a stroke. 

The first part of the service passed by as 
usual, disturbed only by the occasional 
rustle of a silk dress, or the carefully hushed 
footstep up the aisles of some latecomer; 
and the moment for the prayer before the 
sermon was come. Every head was bent, 
and a deep stillness prevailed, which grew 
more and more profound as the minister’s 
voice still remained silent, as if he was wait- 
ing until there was no stir or rustle or 
movement to be heard throughout the con- 
gregation. 

There was something awful in this solemn 
pause before his voice was lifted up to God; 
and as it prolonged itself, a sigh, it might 
have been from the minister’s inmost heart, 


14 


JESSICA MOTHER, 


was heard by those nearest to the pulpit. 
One or two looked up, and saw his head 
bowed down, with the softened light of the 
lamps falling upon the silvery streaks of 
his hair, and they dropped their faces again 
upon their hands waiting. Then there ran 
a thrill and a shiver through all the con- 
gregation, and here and there a sob which 
could no longer be repressed broke the 
laboring silence. 

After that there were whispers and mur- 
murs, and faces lifted up with a vague 
dread upon them; and still the minister 
did not raise his face from the crimson 
cushion that his voice might allay the 
growing agitation. His children were look- 
ing up at last; and Jessica had risen from 
her knees, and was gazing up with eager 
eyes to his drooping head. 

There was a stir now, and the spell of 
silence was broken; while Jessica, forgetful 
of everything but her deep love for him, 
ran swiftly up the steps and touched him 
timidly with her hand. The minister 
neither spoke nor moved. 

The great congregation was in a tumult 
instantly, standing up, and talking, and 
crying out with hysterical sobs, and push- 
ing out of their pews, and thronging to- 
wards the pulpit. In a few minutes the 


JESSICA ’5 MOTHER. 


15 


minister was carried down into the vestry, 
and the crowd gathered about the doors of 
it. Some of the chief men belonging to the 
chapel urged the congregation to disperse 
and return to their homes; but they were 
too much excited to leave before it was 
known what had befallen the minister. 

Jessica pushed her way — being small 
and nimble, and used to crowds — to the 
very door of the vestry, where Daniel stood 
to guard it from being invaded by too 
many strangers ; and she waited there be- 
side him until the door was opened by a 
hand-breadth, and a physician whispered 
from within, It is not death, but a 
stroke.^^ 

More quickly than the words could be 
carried from lip to lip among the crowd, 
Jessica glided through the midst to the pew 
where the minister's children were kneeling 
with their arms about one another, sobbing 
out inarticulate prayers to God. She stood 
for a moment beside them, scarcely know- 
ing what to say, and then she fell down on 
her knees by Winny, and put her lips close 
to her ear. 

‘'Miss Winny," she said with a trembling 
voice, " the doctor says it’s nothing but a 
stroke. He isn’t taken with death. Miss 
Jane ; it’s only a stroke.’’ 


16 


JESSICA'S MOTHER, 


The children started up eagerly and 
caught Jessica’s hands, clinging to her as 
some one older and wiser than themselves. 
They had had no bitter taste of life’s 
troubles before this, for their mother had 
been taken from them before they were old 
enough to understand their loss, and their 
lives had been tenderly smoothed and cared 
for. That Jessica should bring them some 
intelligence and consolation in their sudden 
panic of dread invested her with a kind of 
superiority; so now they looked to her 
as one who could help and counsel them. 

‘‘ What is a stroke, Jessica ? ” asked Jane, 
looking imploringly towards her with her 
white face. 

“ I don’t hardly know,” answered Jessica. 
‘‘ I know what strokes used to be when I 
lived with mother; but this is different. 
Miss Jane; this stroke comes from God, 
and it cannot be very bad.” 

The children were all three of them 
silent after Jessica had spoken ; but each 
one of them was gathering comfort and 
strength from her words. It was a stroke 
which had come from God, and therefore it 
could not be very bad. No one had seen 
it fall; no one had known that the Father’s 
hand was lifted up to strike, and it had 
qome down softly and gently, only hushing 


JESSICA ^S MO THEE. 


17 


the voice and shutting up the gateways of 
the senses. Now that it was known, the 
chapel was gradually emptying as the con- 
gregation went away, and Jane and Winny, 
feeling calmed and strengthened, were 
ready to listen to their nurse, who was now 
anxious to take them home. 

** Let Jessica come home with us, nurse,** 
said Winny, who still held Jessica’s hand 
between both her own. The nurse con- 
sented willingly, and in a few minutes they 
were walking homewards, one on each side 
of Jessica. They felt strangely bewildered 
still ; but Jessica was like a guide to them, 
leading them through the fog and over the 
slimy crossings with familiar confidence, 
until they reached the door of the minis- 
ter’s house, when she hung back shyly, as 
if not meaning to go in with them. 

“ You musn’t leave us yet,” cried Winny, 
impetuously. “ Papa is not come home, 
and I’m a little bit afraid. Aren’t you 
afraid, Jessica? ’* 

‘‘ No,** answered Jessica, cheerfully. “ It 
can’t be anything dreadful bad.” 

‘‘You must come in and stay with us,” 
said Jane, the calm sedateness of her man- 
ner a little shaken by her fears. “Nurse, 
we will take Jessica into papa’s study till he 
comes home.” 


18 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


The three children went quietly up stairs 
to the study, and sat down by the fire, 
which was burning brightly, as if waiting to 
welcome the minister’s return after the 
labors of the day. The minister had gath- 
ered about him many books, so that every 
part of the large room was filled with 
them. 

On the table lay those which he had been 
studying during the week while he was pre- 
paring his elaborate sermon, which was to 
have astonished and electrified even his 
accustomed hearers; and upon the desk 
there were scattered about the slips of paper 
upon which he had jotted down some of 
the profound thoughts which only a few of 
his people could comprehend. But upon 
the chimney-piece, at the end where his 
easy-chair was placed, and close to his 
hand, lay a small pocket-Bible, so worn 
with much reading that there was no book 
in his study like it. 

The troubled children sitting on the 
hearth knew nothing of the profound and 
scholarly volumes on the table ; but they 
were familiar with the little Bible, and 
Winny, taking it in her hand, lifted it to her 
lips and kissed it fondly. 

‘‘ Papa always used to read and talk to 
us on a Sunday night after we had come 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER. 


19 


home,’^ she said sorrowfully, speaking 
already as if the custom was one long past, 
which could never be resumed. 

Does a stroke last long, Jessica? in- 
quired Jane, with a look of deep anxiety. 

I’m not sure,” answered Jessica. 

Mother’s strokes were sharp and soon 
over, but the smart lasted a long while. 
Maybe the stroke is now over, but perhaps 
the smart will last a little while. God 
knows.” 

Yes,” said Jane, the tears standing in 
her eyes, and God knows what is best for 
papa and us. We’ve known that a long, 
long time, but now we must believe it with 
our hearts.” 

‘‘ Believing is a deal harder than know- 
ing,” remarked Winny, with a look wonder- 
fully like her father’s ; and the three chil- 
dren were silent again, their minds full of 
thought, while they listened for the minis- 
ter’s return to his home. 


CHAPTER III. 
Jessica’s mother. 


They were heavy steps which the three 
listening children heard at last in the h^ll 


20 


JESSICA MOTHER. 


below, and upon the staircase the sounds of 
carrying a helpless burden up the stairs, 
and Jane and Winny pressed closer to 
Jessica, who looked from one to the other 
with an air of tender encouragement. As 
the sounds drew nearer, they crept by one 
impulse to the door, and opening it a little 
way, they saw their father’s face as he was 
carried past them, pale but peaceful, with 
the eyelids closed as if he were in a deep 
sleep. Jessica’s quick eyes detected Daniel 
standing in the darkness at the end of the 
passage, and as soon as the sad procession 
had passed into the minister’s chamber, 
and the door was shut, she darted out, and 
led him eagerly to the study. 

“ Oh, Standring ! ” cried Jane and Winny 
in one breath, ^'tell us everything about 
papa.” 

“ Come, come, you needn’t be frightened, 
my little ladies,” answered Daniel, sooth- 
ingly. ‘‘ Please God, your papa will be 
all right again in a week or two. The doc- 
tors say he’s been studying too much to 
make his grand sermons, and he hasn’t 
given his brain rest enough. But he’ll 
come all right again by-and-by, or I don’t 
know whatever will become of the chapel.” 

‘^He won’t die?” murmured Jane, with 
quivering lips. 


JESSICA MOTHER, 


21 


^^Die! — oh, no!’* said Daniel. ‘^Why, 
my dears, you’re all of a tremble. It would 
be the best for you to go to bed, for you 
can’t do any good sitting up.” 

Standring,” said Winny, I wish you’d 
let Jessica stay all night with us. She 
could sleep with nurse; and our room is 
inside nurse’s, and if we leave the door 
open we could talk to one another.” 

^‘She may stay and welcome, if nurse 
likes, Miss Winny,” answered Daniel ; and 
as the nurse was anxious for her children 
to feel their new sorrow as lightly as 
possible she was glad to grant their re- 
quest. 

So after a while it happened that Daniel 
was wending his way alone, through the 
fog and the damp of the streets, towards a 
little house in a quiet and respectable sort 
of court, where for the last three years he 
had dwelt with his adopted child. His 
mind had been fully occupied with the 
strange events of the night and the paraly- 
sis of his stricken master; but now that he 
was alone, and his thoughts were free to 
return to his own affairs, they suddenly 
recalled to him the minister’s last words to 
himself. 

What could it be of importance that he 
had to say to him when the evening ser- 


22 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER. 


vice was finished? His brain had been 
busy with guesses, in spite of his con- 
science, during the singing of the hymns, 
and even during the first prayer, when he 
stood at the chapel-door to arrest the 
entrance of any late comer until it should 
be ended. Something of importance, and 
now the minister could not reveal it to him ! 

He knew that at a private committee 
meeting, during the past week, a plan had 
been proposed for erecting a small residence 
close to the new chapel and schoolrooms, 
where the chapel-keeper might dwell; and 
it had been suggested that his salary should 
be raised to such a sum as would free him 
from the necessity of seeking any other 
employment. In fact, the care of the 
chapel would be work enough, for it was 
to be very large and magnificent; and 
already his duties filled up four clear days 
of the week. 

Could it be to speak about this the min- 
ister had desired him to come into his 
vestry immediately after the congregation 
had departed? But it was not so much the 
minister’s business as that of the chief men 
belonging to the church. Could it be any- 
thing about Jessica? It did not seem very 
likely ; yet the minister was very partial to 
Jessica, and always seemed pleased to see 


JESSICA'S MOTHER, 


23 


her about the vestry, and he was talking to 
her very kindly when Daniel went to fetch 
the pulpit books. It was a hard thing to 
pacify his awakened curiosity, and he sup- 
posed nobody could satisfy it but the min- 
ister himself How long was the stroke 
likely to last? 

Daniel was asking himself this question, 
which neither he nor any one else could 
answer, just as he reached the door of his 
dwelling. There was a dim light from a 
lamp at the entrance of the court, and there 
was the red gleam of his own fire shining 
upon the white window-blind within, so that 
he could distinguish pretty plainly the fig- 
ure of a person, which looked more like a 
heap of rags, crouching upon his door-sill. 
A tattered coat was tied round the neck by 
the sleeves, and an old brimless hat was 
drawn over the back of the head ; but the 
tangled hair, which hung in ragged locks 
over the face, was too long for a man’s ; 
and as he stooped down to look more 
closely, it was certainly a woman’s face 
which was turned towards him. 

‘‘Come, come,” he said, “you’ve no 
business here, you know; so you’d better 
get up and go home. You don’t belong to 
this place, and you’ve made a mistake com- 
ing here. This is my house.” 


24 


JESSICA'S MOTHER, 


He had his key in his hand, ready to let 
himself in where the comfortable fire was 
waiting for him ; but he could not open the 
door until the miserable creature had 
moved, and, though she raised herself a 
little, she did not get up on her feet. 

‘‘ I don’t belong to any place,” she an- 
swered suddenly, yet fiercely; “and I 
haven’t made any mistake in coming here. 
You’re Daniel Standring, and I’m Jessica’s 
mother.” 

' Daniel reeled for an instant as if he had 
been struck by a very heavy blow. He 
had long ago ceased to trouble himself 
about Jessica’s mother, or to dread her re- 
appearance; and the minister had assured 
him that, if she should ever return to claim 
her daughter, he would use all his influ- 
ence to protect Jessica from her, as being an 
unfit person to have the training of a child. 
The woman was standing up now, but lean- 
ing her back against his door, snapping her 
fingers at him with her face stretched out, 
with a glare of angry defiance in her bright 
eyes, which sparkled through the gloom. 

“ I’ve nearly had the door down,” she 
said, with a hoarse laugh, “till all your 
neighbors came out to see what was the 
matter; but I scared them in again. The 
police himself turned tail like a coward.” 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER, 


25 


And she laughed again so loud that the 
quiet court seemed to ring with the sound, 
and a door or two was cautiously opened, 
and Daniel saw his neighbors peeping out, 
all of them decent people, who held him in 
high respect as the chapel-keeper of so 
fashionable a chapel. 

“ I want my daughter,'' she cried, in high, 
shrill notes, ‘‘ my Jessica, my daughter. 
Where is she, you scoundrel ?" 

‘‘ Come, now, then," answered Daniel, 
emboldened by the advance of two or 
three of the men, who came up to form 
a flank of defence or resistance, ‘‘ this be- 
havior won't do. Jessica isn't here; so 
you'd better take yourself off. I wouldn't 
give her up to you if she was here ; but she 
isn't here, and there's an end of it." 

The woman seated herself once more 
upon the sill, and leaned her head against 
the door-post. 

If you go in, I go in," she said dog- 
gedly; ‘'and if I stay out, you stay out. I 
want my Jessica." 

It was an embarrassingposition for Daniel. 
He did not like to resort to force in or- 
der to enter his house for several reasons. 
First, and chiefly, he was now too sincere a 
Christian to choose any violent or ungentle 
measures; but, besides this, the person be- 


26 


JESSICA MOTHER. 


fore him was a woman, and the mother of 
Jessica; and he was himself in a softened 
mood, from the excitement and sorrow of 
the evening. He stretched out his arm, and 
fitted the key into the lock ; but before he 
turned it he looked as closely as he could 
through the gloom into the woman’s face. 

‘‘ You’re not drunk, are you ?” he said. 

Neither sup nor drop has passed my 
lips to-day,” she answered, with a groan of 
suffering. 

‘‘Well, well! — come in,” said Daniel; 
“and you too, Mr. Brookes, if you please. 
I’m not myself at all to-night ; and it ’ud 
hearten me to have somebody to back me. 
Come in.” 

He opened the door into a comfortable 
and neat room, where everything was ar- 
ranged with scrupulous order; for he was 
an orderly man by nature, and Jessica had 
already the thrifty habits of a housekeeper. 
The fire had been well raked over with 
small coals before he and Jessica started 
for chapel, and now it was a bank of glow- 
ing embers. 

The woman tottered across to the hearth, 
and flung herself into Daniel’s arm-chair. 
They could see now how wan and hollow 
her face was, with the cheeks fallen in, and 
the burning eyes sunk deep into the head, 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


27 


while, as she stretched out her thin and 
yellow hands over the fire, the red gleam 
shone through them. The poor tatters she 
wore were limp and dank with fog, and the 
slippers into which her naked feet were 
thrust were worn out at the toes, so as to 
give free inlet to the mud of the pavement. 

Daniel regarded her in silence for a min- 
ute or two, and then he passed on into a 
small kitchen at the back, and returned 
quickly with some bread and cheese and 
some coffee, which he warmed up in a little 
saucepan. She drank the coffee eagerly, 
but she could not swallow more than a 
mouthful or two of the bread. 

And this is Jessica’s home,” she said, 
when she was revived a little ; and a very 
comfortable home too. Eh! but I’m a 
lucky mother, and she’s a lucky girl. Will 
she be in to-night, Mr. Standring?” 

No,” answered Daniel, shortly. 

Well, I can make myself comfortable,” 
she said, with a laugh which made Daniel 
shiver. “ I dare say her bed is softer than 
any I’ve slept on of late. Last night I slept 
under a scaffolding on some shavings. 
Don’t put yourself out about me. I can 
make myself comfortable.” 

“ But you cannot stay here all night,” 
replied Daniel decisively. 


28 


JESSICA ’ 5 MO THER. 


‘‘And why not?” she rejoined, “I sup- 
pose I’m as good as my daughter. Ah, 
she’ll never be the woman I’ve been. I 
rode in my carriage once, man, I can tell 
you. And what should hinder me staying 
a night, or a week, or a month in your pal- 
try little house ? No, no ! you’ll not see 
my back to-night, I promise you.” 

“ I wouldn’t give you a night’s lodging 
for five shillings,” said Daniel, hastily. 

“ Im not going to give you five farthings 
for it,” said the woman, settling herself in 
his arm-chair with an air of impudent de- 
fiance. “ Jessica’s home is my home. If 
you turn me out, out she goes with me.” 

Daniel drew his neighbor aside into the 
kitchen, where he consulted with him in 
whispers, while he kept his eye upon his 
terrible visitor through the open door. 

“ What am I to do with her ?” he asked. 
“ I wouldn’t have her stop here for anything. 
Jessica is staying all night with the minis- 
ter’s children; but she’ll come back to- 
morrow. Whatever am I to do ?” 

“ Give her some money to go away,” an- 
swered Brookes ; and after a little heavy- 
hearted hesitation Daniel resolved to act 
upon his advice. He returned into his 
comfortable little parlor, which in some way 
had never looked even to himself so com- 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


29 


fortable and pleasant ; and he addressed his 
visitor with a determined and resolute 
aspect. 

Now,” he said, ^‘if you won’t go away 
peaceable I’ll send for a policeman, as sure 
as I’m the chapel-keeper of St. John’s 
Chapel. I don’t want to be violent with 
you, for I’m a Christian man ; but I don’t 
know that a Christian man is bound to give 
you a lodging in his own house. I should 
rather think he wasn’t. But if you will go 
away quiet, here is a shilling to pay for a 
bed and breakfast elsewhere. That’s all I 
can do or say. It’s that, or the police.” 

The woman deliberated for a few min- 
utes, looking hard into Daniel’s face; but 
there was no sign of irresolution or relent- 
ing upon his grave features ; and at last she 
raised herself slowly and weariedly from the 
chair, and dragged her slip-shod feet across 
the floor towards him. She took the shill- 
ing sullenly from his hand, and without a 
word passed out into the cold and damp of 
the streets, while Daniel watched her un- 
steady steps down the court with a feeling 
of relief. 

But when Brookes was gone, and the door 
was locked for the night, and the agreeable 
warmth of the glowing fire wrapped round 
him, he could not keep his thoughts from 


30 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


wondering where the wretched woman had 
found a shelter. His mind also looked on- 
wards with misgiving to the future which 
lay immediately before him and Jessica; 
and again he lamented on his own account 
that he could not go for counsel to Jessica's 
other friend, the minister who had been 
stricken into silence and unconsciousness, 
even concerning interests still nearer and 
dearer to his heart. 


CHAPTER IV. 

Jessica's choice. 

Early the next morning Daniel went to 
the minister’s house, half hoping that he 
should hear that the malady of the night 
before had been only a temporary insensi- 
bility, from which he had recovered. But 
the minister lay in the same state of uncon- 
sciousness, and showed no sign of return- 
ing life. The nurse told him that a ragged 
and miserable woman, who called herself 
Jessica's mother, had seen him during the 
Sunday afternoon, and held a long conver- 
sation with him, after which he had ordered 
some food to be given her in the kitchen. 


JESSICA *S MOTHER, 


31 


This, then, no doubt was the subject upon 
which the minister wished to speak to 
Daniel ; and the latter felt more than ever 
lost in doubt as to what he ought to do, as 
it was now impossible to hear the advice 
which his master had intended to give to 
him. 

He walked thoughtfully towards the 
chapel, with Jessica beside him, scarcely 
knowing how to. break the news to her. 
She was a little sad and less talkative than 
usual, and her small hand was thrust lov- 
ingly into his own, as if she felt that it was 
needful to assure herself that it could return 
her warm grasp. When they opened the 
vestry- door, and, going in, saw all the con- 
fusion which bore testimony of the last 
night’s calamity, Daniel drew the child 
closer to him with his arm, and bending 
down stiffly, kissed her uplifted face. 

“ He isn’t going to die,” said Jessica, 
with a trembling voice ; ‘‘ he is only resting 
himself, the doctor says, and then he will 
know us again, and speak to us all.” 

“To think! ” cried Daniel, in a mournful 
amazement, “ that he should have spoken 
thousands and thousands of words, ay! 
millions ! and I scarce gave an ear to them ; 
and now I’d almost offer a golden guinea 
for every word he could speak to me ! Ay ! 


32 


JESSICA'S MOTHER. 


Jessica, so that he spoke pretty short and 
simple, I’d give a guinea a word if he could 
tell me what I ought to do.” 

“Do you want him to say something 
particular?” asked Jessica. 

“ Ay ! very particular,” answered Daniel. 

“ Couldn’t you ask God ? ” suggested 
Jessica. 

“Well,” he answered, doubtfully, “of 
course I could ; but then there’s no direct 
answer, which I couldn’t mistake. My 
mother used to open her Bible, and take the 
first words she set eyes on for answer; 
and very queer answers they were some- 
times. I’m not good enough yet to expect 
a very clear answer to my prayers. 

Jessica made no answer, for Daniel’s 
mode of reasoning was a little obscure to 
her ; but she set to work to put the scattered 
chairs in order, while Daniel looked on 
with loving but troubled eyes. 

“ Jessica,” he said, “the trouble I’d like 
to talk to him about is that your mother’s 
come back again.” 

She started, and looked at him with great, 
wide-open eyes of amazement and terror, 
while her face quivered, and she twitched 
her small shoulders a little, as if already 
shrinking from a blow. But the expression 
of pain and fear passed away quickly, and 


JESSICA MOTHER, 


33 


though her face was pale a smile came upon 
it. 

‘‘ Doesn’t God know that mother’s come 
back ? ” she asked. 

There was no need for Daniel to answer 
her question, but he turned it over and over 
again in his own mind with something very 
much like doubt. It seemed as if it would 
have been so much better, especially at this 
crisis, for Jessica’s mother to remain absent; 
that it was as if God had given up His par- 
ticular providence over the affairs of insig- 
nificant people like himself and Jessica. It 
would be no wonder if amid all the affairs 
of the hosts of angels, and the myriads of 
worlds of which he had a vague idea, that 
God should overlook a little matter like the 
tramping to and fro of a drunken woman. 
It was a saddening thought; but Daniel 
was in the mood to cherish it. 

‘‘ Do you know where mother is ? ” asked 
Jessica. 

‘‘ No, deary,” answered Daniel. I gave 
her a shilling last night to pay for her lodg- 
ing and breakfast. She told me she’d had 
nothing to eat or drink all day; but the 
nurse said she’d been to see the minister 
yesterday afternoon, and had a good meal. 
She’s sure to come again.” 

Ay, she’s sure to come again/’ echoed 
Jessica. 


34 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


And so/* continued Daniel, nurse and 
me have agreed you’d better stay with the 
young ladies for a bit, out of the way like, 
till I can see how I can settle with your 
mother. You’d be glad to stay with Miss 
Jane and Winny, Jessica ? ” 

“Yes,” she answered, her face quivering 
again, as if she could scarcely keep herself 
from crying ; “ but I’d like to see my 

mother.” 

“See your mother!” repeated Daniel, 
with unfeigned astonishment ; “ whatever 
for, Jessica? ” 

“ She’s my mother,” replied Jessica, “and 
the Lord Jesus Christ had a mother. Oh 1 
I’d like to see her again, and tell her about 
God, and Jesus Christ, and heaven. Per- 
haps she’d become a good woman 1 ” 

She could control herself no longer, and 
throwing herself on her knees before the 
minister’s chair she hid her face in her 
hands, and Daniel heard that amid her sobs 
she was murmuring some prayer to God 
for her mother. This was a new perplexity, 
that Jessica should wish to see her cruel 
and hard-hearted mother; but there was 
something in it which he could neither 
blame nor gainsay. He would rather have 
kept Jessica in safety at the minister’s house 
than have her exposed to the frequent and 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER, 


35 


violent visits of the drunken woman to his 
own little dwelling; but if Jessica decided 
otherwise he would not oppose her. His 
house did not seem the same place without 
her presence in it. 

Choose for yourself, deary,” he said, 
very gently ; ‘‘ come home with me, and 
run the chance of your mother coming 
again soon ; or go back to Miss Jane and 
Winny, who are so fond of you, and where 
everything is fine, and you’ll be in such 
good company. Choose for yourself.” 

ril go home with you,” said Jessica, 
getting up from her knees with a cheerful 
smile. ‘‘ I couldn’t think this morning 
who’d sweep the kitchen, and get the break- 
fast. I’d rather go home with you, if you 
please.” 

It was impossible for Daniel not to be 
gratified at Jessica’s choice, however troubled 
he might be with the idea of her mother’s 
disturbance of their peace for home was 
not home without her. They kept very 
near to one another all day at their work, 
and it was late at night before they returned 
home, where they found no one sitting 
upon the door-step, as Daniel timorously 
expected. But their neighbor Brookes in- 
formed them that Jessica’s mother had been 
sobbing and crying before the closed door 
during a great part of the evening. 


36 


JESSICA *S MO THER. 


CHAPTER V. 

HOW A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO ACT. 

Daniel was very anxious that Jessica 
should not be exposed to her mother’s 
violence at any time during his absence, 
when he would not be there to protect her 
from any ill-usage ; and as he was almost 
constantly engaged with the chapel affairs 
for the next two or three days, he and 
Jessica were never at home until late in the 
evening. 

But upon Thursday night as they turned 
into the court Jessica’s quick eye saw a 
woman’s figure leaning against the door- 
post of their house. She stood still for an 
instant, clasping Daniel’s hand with close 
and timid grasp and then, quitting him, she 
ran forward, and stretching out both her 
hands almost as if she wished to throw 
herself into her mother’s arms, she cried, 
“ Mother ! mother ! ” 

The woman laughed loudly and shrilly, 
and flung her shrivelled arms about Jessica, 
fondling her with a maudlin fondness; 
Jessica drew back sorrowfully, and lifted 
herself pn tip-toe to whisper into Daniel’s 
e^r; 

“She’s a little drunjc, you know,” she 
said, “but she isn’t very |3ad yet. She 
isn’t furious. What s|iall we do ? ” 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


37 


It was precisely the question Daniel was 
asking of himself, for he could not bear the 
idea of taking a drunken women into his 
respectable and orderly house; and yet, 
could he turn our Jessica’s mother before 
Jessica’s eyes? He paused for some 
minutes before unlocking the door, while 
the woman continued to talk in a foolish 
strain to her child, but at last he felt com- 
pelled to open it, and she was the first to 
push her way in. She took possession 
again of his armchair, and tossed her old, 
tattered hat into a corner of the room, while 
he looked on in helpless and deep dismay. 

'' Mother,” said Jessica, speaking to her 
in gentle but steady tones, “this isn’t your 
house at all, and you can’t stay here. It’s 
Mr. Dan’el’s house: but I dare say he’ll let 
me give you some supper, and then you’d 
better go away, and come to see me again 
when you’re quite yourself.” 

The woman fastened her red and sunken 
eyes upon Jessica, and then burst into a fit 
of passionate lamenting, while she drew the 
child closer to her. 

“ Oh ! I wish I was a better woman !” 
she cried. “ I’ve been driven to it, Jessica. 
But I’m coming to live here with you now, 
and be decent like the rest of you. I’m 
going to turn over a new leaf, and you’ll 


38 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER. 


see how steady I’ll be. I’ll be no disgrace 
to any of ye.” 

‘‘ But, mother,” said Jessica, ‘‘you can’t 
live here, because it’s Mr. Dan’el’s house, 
and he only took me out of charity, when 
I was ill and you left me. We can’t look 
for him to take you.” 

“ If you stay, I stay,” said her mother, 
in a tone of obstinacy, setting her elbows 
firmly upon the arms of the chair, and 
planting her feet on the floor; “or, if I go, 
you go. I’d like to know who’d have the 
heart to separate a mother from her own 
child !” 

Jessica stood for a minute or two looking 
at her mother with eyes full of sadness and 
pity, and then she crept to Daniel’s side, 
and whispered to him with an air of 
pleading. 

“ I don’t think she ever knew that God 
is our Father,” she said. 

Daniel found himself at a complete loss 
as to what he ought to do. The miserable 
creature before him shocked every sense 
of decency and propriety, which had been 
firmly and rigidly rooted in his nature ; and 
the very sight of her, drunken and disor- 
derly, upon his hearth, was an abomination 
to him. Since she had last spoken, she 
had fallen into a brief slumber, and her 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


39 


grey, uncovered head was shaking and 
nodding with an imbecile aspect. Jessica 
was gone up-stairs, for what he did not 
know, unless it was to make some arrange- 
ment for her mother's accommodation ; 
and he remained motionless, staring at the 
wretched woman with a feeling of abhor- 
rence and disgust which increased every 
moment. 

But presently he heard Jessica's light 
step descending the stairs, and started with 
surprise when she came into the room. She 
had changed her tidy dress for the poorest 
and oldest clothing in her possession, and 
she approached him with a sorrowful but 
patient look upon her face. 

‘‘ Mr. Dan'el," she said, unconsciously 
falling back into speaking the old name by 
which she had first called him, ‘*you musn't 
go to take mother in out of charity, as well 
as me. That 'ud never do. So I'll go 
away with her to-night, and in the morning, 
when she's sober. I'll tell her all about 
God, and Jesus Christ, and heaven. She 
doesn't know it yet, but maybe when she 
hears everything she’ll be a different 
woman ; like me, you know ; and then we 
can all help her to be good. Only I must 
go away with her to-night, or she’ll get 
into a raging fury like she used to do.'’ 


40 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER. 


“ No, no, no cried Daniel vehemently. 
“ I couldn’t let you go, dear. Why, Jes- 
sica, I love 3*ou more than my money, 
don’t I ? God knows I love you better. 
I’d rather lose all my money, ay, and my 
place as chapel-keeper, than lose you.” 

“You aren’t going to lose me,” said 
Jessica, with the same patient but sorrow- 
ful light in her eyes, “I’m only going away 
for a little while with my mother. She’s 
my mother, and I want to tell her all I 
know — that she may go to heaven as well 
as us. “ I’ll come back to-morrow.” 

“ She shall stay here,” said Daniel, hesi- 
tatingly. 

“No, no,” answered Jessica, “that ’ud 
never do. She’ll be for stopping always if 
you give in once. You’d better let me go 
with her this one night; and to-morrow 
morning, when she’s all right. I’ll tell her 
everything. She’ll be very low then, and 
she’ll hearken to me. Mother ! I’m ready 
to go with you.” 

The woman opened her swollen eyelids 
and staggered to her feet, laying her hand 
heavily upon the slight shoulder of Jes- 
sica, who looked from her to Daniel with 
a clear, sad, brave smile, as she bent her 
childish shoulders a little under her 
mother’s hand, as if they felt already the 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER, 


41 


heavy burden that was falling upon her 
life. It was a hard moment for Daniel, and 
he was yet doubtful whether he should let 
them both go, or keep them both ; but 
Jessica had led her mother to the door, and 
already her hand was upon the latch, 

‘'Stop a minute, Jessica,’' he said, “ril 
let you go with her this once; only there’s 
a lodging-house not far off, and I’ll come 
with you, and see you safe for the night, 
and pay your lodgings.” 

“ All right !” answered Jessica, with a 
quick, sagacious nod ; and in a few minutes 
they were walking along the streets, Jessica 
between her mother and Daniel, all of 
them very silent, except when the woman 
broke out into a stave or two of some old, 
long-forgotten song. Before long they 
reached the lodging-house of which Daniel 
had spoken, and he saw them safely into 
the little, close, dark closet, which was to 
be their bedroom. 

“ Good-night,” said Daniel, kissing 
Jessica with more than usual tender- 
ness ; “ you don’t feel as if you’d like to 
come back with me, now we’ve seen your 
mother comfortable, do you ?” 

“ No,” answered Jessica, with a wistful 
look from him to her mother, who had 
thrown herself upon the bed and was fast 


42 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


asleep already, I think I’m doing what 
God would like me to do; aren’t I? He 
knows she is my mother.” 

‘‘Ay, God bless you, my dear,” said 
Daniel, turning away quickly, and closing 
the door behind him. He stumbled down 
the dark stairs into the street, and returned 
to his desolate home, saying to himself, 
“ I’m sure I don’t know how a Christian 
ought to act in this case ; and there’s no- 
body to go and ask now.” 


CHAPTER VI. 

Daniel’s prayer. 

The two following days, Friday and 
Saturday, were always a busy time at the 
chapel, for the whole place had to be swept 
and dusted in preparation for the coming 
Sunday. Never had Daniel felt so de- 
pressed and down-hearted as when he en- 
tered the chilly and empty chapel early in 
the morning and alone, for Jessica was to 
follow him by-and-by, when her mother had 
strolled away for the day to her old haunts. 

Only a week ago he and Jessica had 
gone cheerfully about their work together, 
Jessica’s blithe, clear young voice echoing 


JESSICA MOTHER. 


43 


through the place as she sang to herself, or 
called to him from some far-off pew, or 
down from the gallery. But now every- 
thing was upset, and in confusion. He 
mounted the pulpit steps, and after shaking 
the cushions, and dusting every ledge and 
crevice, he stood upright in a strange and 
solemn reverie, as he looked round upon 
the empty pews, which were want to be so 
crowded on a Sunday. 

It would make a wonderful difference to 
the place, he thought, if anything worse 
should happen to his master ; for even to 
himself Daniel could not bear to say the 
sad word, death. They could never find 
his like again. Never ! he repeated, laying 
his hand reverently upon the crimson 
cushion, where the minister's grey head 
had sunk in sudden dumbness before God ; 
and two large solemn tears forced them- 
selves into Daniel’s eyes, and rolled slowly 
down his cheeks. 

He did not know who ever would fill the 
pulpit even on the coming Sabbath ; but he 
felt that he could never bear to say at the 
chapel after its glory was departed, and see 
the congregation dwindling down, and 
growing more and more scanty every week, 
until only a few drowsy hearers came to 
listen sleepily to a lifeless preacher. No ! 


44 


JESSICA'S MOTHER. 


no! that would go a good way towards 
breaking his heart. 

Besides all this, how he longed to be able 
to ask the minister what he ought to do 
about Jessica’s mother! But whether for 
instruction in the pulpit or for counsel 
in private the minister’s voice was hushed ; 
and Daniel’s heart was not a whit lighter, 
as he slowly descended the pulpit steps. 

It was getting on for noon before Jessica 
followed him, bringing his dinner with her in 
a little basket. Her eyes were red with 
tears, and she was very quiet while he ate 
with a poor appetite the food she set before 
him. He felt reluctant to ask after her 
mother; but when the meal was finished 
Jessica drew near to him, and took hold of 
his hand in both her own. 

“ Mr. Daniel,” she said, very sorrowfully, 
when mother awoke this morning I told 
her everything about Jesus Christ, and 
God, and heaven ; and she knew it all be- 
fore ! Before I was born, she said !” 

‘‘Ah!” ejaculated Daniel, but not in a 
tone of surprise; only because Jessica 
paused and looked mournfully into his 
face. 

“ Yes,” continued Jessica, shaking her 
head hopelessly, “ she knew about it, and 
she never told me, never ! She never 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER. 


45 


spoke of God at all, only when she was 
cursing. I don’t know now anything that’ll 
make her a good woman. I thought that 
if she only heard what I said she’d love 
God, but she only laughed at me, and said 
it’s an old story. I don’t know what can 
be done for her now.” 

Jessica’s tears were falling fast again, and 
Daniel did not know how to comfort her. 
There was little hope, he knew, of a woman 
so enslaved by drunkenness being brought 
back again to religion and God. 

“If the minister could only see her!” 
said Jessica. “ He speaks as if he had seen 
God, and talked to him sometimes ; and 
she’d be sure to believe him. I don’t know 
how to say the right things.” 

“ No, no 1 ” answered Daniel. “ She saw 
him on Sunday, before he had the stroke, 
and he talked a long time to her. No ! 
she won’t be changed by him.” 

“ She’s my mother, you know,” repeated 
Jessica anxiously. 

“ Ay 1” said Daniel, “ and that puzzles 
me, Jessica ; I don’t know what to do.” 

“ Couldn’t we pray to God,” suggested 
Jessica, again, “ now, before we go on any 
farther ?” 

“ Maybe it would be the best thing to 
do,” agreed Daniel, rising from his chair 


46 


JESSICA'S MOTHER. 


and kneeling down with Jessica beside him. 
At first he attempted to pray like some of 
the church-members at the weekly prayer- 
meeting, in set and formal phrases ; but he 
felt that if he wished to obtain any real 
blessing he must ask for it in simple and 
childlike words, as if speaking face to face 
with his Heavenly Father ; and this was 
the prayer he made, after freeing himself 
from the ceremonial etiquette of the prayer- 
meetings : 

Lord, thou knowest that Jessica’s 
mother is come back, and what a drunken 
and disorderly woman she is, and we don’t 
know what to do with her, and the minis- 
ter cannot give uS his advice. Sometimes 
I’m afraid I love my money too much yet, 
but. Lord, if it’s that, or anything else that’s 
hard in my heart, so as to hinder me from 
doing what the Saviour, Jesus Christ, would 
do if he was in my place, I pray thee to 
take it away, and make me see clearly what 
my Christian duty is. Dear Lord, I be- 
seech thee keep both me and Jessioa from 
evil.” 

Daniel rose from his knees a good deal 
relieved and lightened in spirit. He had 
simply, with the heart of a child, laid his 
petition before God ; and now he felt that 
it was God’s part to direct him. Jessica 


JESSICA ’5 MOTHER. 


47 


herself seemed brighter, for if the matter 
had been laid in God’s hands she felt that it 
was certain to come out all right in the 
end. 

They went back to their work in the 
chapel, and though it was melancholy to 
remember that their own minister would be 
absent from the pulpit on the Sunday 
which was drawing near, they felt satisfied 
with the thought that God knew all, and 
was making all things work together for 
the good of those who loved him. 


CHAPTER VII. 

A BUSY DAY FOR DANIEL. 

Daniel went home with Jessica, still dis- 
turbed a little with the dread of finding his 
unwelcome visitor awaiting their arrival ; 
but she was not there, and there was no in- 
terruption to their quiet evening together, 
though both of them started and looked to- 
wards the door at every sound of a footstep 
in the court. 

After they had their tea, and while 
Jessica was putting away the tea-things in 
the kitchen, Daniel unlocked his desk, and 
took out his receipts for the money he had 


48 


JESSICA'S MOTHER. 


out on interest. Since he had adopted 
Jessica he had not added much to his sav- 
ings ; for besides the cost of her maintenance 
there had also been the expenses of house- 
keeping. In former times he had scarcely 
cared how uncomfortable his lodgings 
were, provided that they were cheap ; and 
he had found that to have a tidy and com- 
fortable house of his own involved a great 
outlay of money. 

Sometimes a thought had crossed his 
mind, of which he was secretly ashamed, 
that the minister, who seemed so fond of 
Jessica, or at least some of the rich mem- 
bers of the congregation, might have borne 
part of the charge of her living; but no one 
had ever offered to do anything for her. 
He had spent his money with a half grudge, 
and now the question upon his mind was, 
did God require him to waste — he said 
‘‘ waste’’ to himself — his hardly-earned sav- 
ings upon a drunken and wicked woman ? 

It was a hard trial. He loved Jessica, as 
he had said, more than his money, and he 
had never really regretted taking her into 
his home ; she was like a daughter to him, 
and he was a happier and a better man for 
her companionship. But this woman was 
an abhorrence to him, a disgust and dis- 
grace. She had no more claim upon him 


JESSICA 'S MOTHER. 


49 


than any other of the thousands of lost men 
and women who thronged the streets of 
London. 

Surely God did not require him to take 
this money, which was the sole provision 
for his old age; and now that the minister 
was so stricken there would be no new 
chapel built for him, and no house for the 
chapel-keeper, and no increase of salary. 
That was already a settled point, for the 
physicians who were attending the minister 
declared positively that never again would 
his over-worked brain be capable of sustain- 
ing any long strain of thought, such as had 
drawn together his eager and attentive con- 
gregations. 

It was scarcely even a question whether 
he would be able to resume his position as 
pastor of this old church; and under a new 
minister it was probable the place might be 
half emptied, and his emoluments as chapel- 
keeper be considerably lessened. He was 
getting older too, and there was not more 
than ten years' work in him. He looked at 
his treasured receipts, and asked himself. 
Could it be possible that God required him 
to sacrifice his past gains, and risk his 
future comforts upon Jessica's mother? 

Then another question, in the very 
depths of his conscience, was whispered to 


50 


JESSICA MOTHER, 


his heart, which at first was willing to re- 
main deaf to the small and quiet voice; 
but it grew louder and more clamorous, 
until Daniel found that it must be heard 
and answered. 

‘‘ What think you Christ would have done 
with this woman ? ” it asked. If God had 
brought her to that door where He dwelt 
as a poor carpenter, would he have thrust 
her back upon the misery of the life which 
drove her again and again to the vilest of 
her sins ? Would Jesus, who came to seek 
as well as to save those who are lost, have 
balanced a book of savings against the hope, 
faint though it was, of rescuing the woman’s 
soul? 

‘‘Daniel, Daniel,” answered the quiet 
voice to his inmost heart, “ what would thy 
Lord have done ? ” He tried to set it 
aside, and hush it up, while he turned the 
key upon his receipts, telling himself that 
he had done all that his duty as a Christian 
demanded of him when he rescued and 
adopted Jessica. But the Spirit of God has 
a gracious tyranny which requires more 
and more from the soul which begins to 
sacrifice itself He had mastered his love 
of money for the sake of a child whom he 
loved ; now he must conquer it to rescue a 
wretched woman wjhom he shrank from. 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


51 


The struggle seemed to last long, but it 
was ended before Jessica came back to the 
fireside. Daniel’s prayer in the afternoon 
had been too sincere for him to be left in 
darkness to grope along a wrong path. 
His face wore a smile as Jessica took her 
sewing and sat down opposite to him ; such 
a smile as rarely lit up his rigid features. 

Jessica,” he said, ‘‘ God has shown me 
what to do.” 

Perhaps it’ll be better than the minister 
himself,” answered Jessica. 

Ay ! ” answered Daniel. I don’t think 
the minister could have told me plainer. 
Why, Jessica, suppose the Lord had been 
living here, and your mother had come to 
his door, wouldn’t he have cared for her, 
and grieved over her, and done everything 
he could to prevent her going on in sin ? 
Well, dear, it seems to me it wouldn’t be 
altogether right to take her to live with us 
all at once, because you are a young girl 
and ought not to see such ways, and I 
might get angry with her ; but I’ll hire a 
room for her somewhere, that shall be 
always kept for her, and whenever she 
comes to it there will be a bed, and a meal 
for her; and we’ll be very kind to her, and 
see if by any means we can help to make 
her good.” 


52 


JESSICA 'S MO THER, 


Jessica had dropped her sewing and 
drawn near to Daniel ; and now she flung 
her arms round his neck, and hid her face 
upon his breast, crying. 

Why, now, now, my dear ! said Dan- 
iel, “ what ails you, Jessica ? Wouldn't the 
Lord Jesus have made a plan something 
like that ? Come, come, we'll pray to him 
to make her a good woman; and then — 
who knows ? — she may come here to live 
with us." 

She's my own mother, you know," 
sobbed Jessica, as if those words alone were 
thoughts in her heart. 

‘‘ Yes ! " answered Daniel, and we must 
do our best for her. Jessica, I know now 
that I love God more than aught else in 
this world or the next." 

It was a knowledge worth more than all 
the riches of earth ; and as Daniel sat in 
his chimney-Gorner he could hardly realize 
his own happiness. To be sure that he 
loved God supremely, and to have the wit- 
ness in himself that he did so ! He felt as 
if he could take all the world of lost and 
ruined sinners to his heart, and, like Christ 
himself, lay down his life for them. There 
was only one shadow, if it could be called a 
shadow, upon his joy unspeakable, and full 
of comfort — it was that he could not glad- 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER, 


53 


den the heart of the minister by telling him 
of this change in his nature. 

The next day was a very busy one for 
Daniel ; for besides his ordinary duties he 
charged himself with finding a suitable 
place for Jessica’s mother. He met with a 
room at last in the dwelling of a poor 
widow, who was glad to let him have it on 
condition that he paid the rent of the 
house. 

He and Jessica bought a bed and a chair 
and a table, and put everything in readiness 
for their expected visitor. Scanty as was 
the furniture, it was a warm and certain 
shelter for the poor vagrant, who spent half 
her night shivering under archways, or in 
unfinished buildings ; and never had Daniel 
felt so pure a gratification as when he gave 
a last look at the room, and taking Jessica 
by the hand went back to his own home, 
no longer afraid of meeting the woman on 
his threshold. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

HOPES OF RECOVERY. 

It was a happy Sunday for Daniel, in spite 
of the minister’s absence and the downcast 


54 


JESSICA ’5 MOTHER. 


looks of the congregation as they occupied 
their accustomed seats. The chapters read 
out of the Bible had new meaning for him, 
and the singing brought happy tears to his 
eyes. It seemed as if he had never truly 
known God before ; and though the sermon, 
by a student merely, was one which he 
would have criticised with contempt a week 
ago, now it was pleasant only to hear the 
names of his God and Saviour; just as one 
is pleased to hear even a stammering tongue 
speak the praises of those we love. 

During the evening service Jessica went 
to stay with the minister’s children. Jane 
came down to her in the hall and told her 
they were to sit in their father’s room while 
the strange nurse and their own nurse were 
having tea together in an adjoining room. 

Nurse thinks,” said Jane, that, if papa 
knew, he would like us to sit with him this 
Sunday evening; and sometimes we think 
he does know, though he never speaks, and 
he seems to be asleep all the time. We 
are to read our chapter and say our hymns 
just as if he could hear. And nurse says 
he told your mother only last Sunday that 
he loves you almost like one of his own 
little girls. So we said we should like you 
to come and read with us ; for you are not 
a bit afraid, Jessica.” 


JESSICA MOTHER, 


55 


They had mounted the stairs while Jane 
was whispering these sentences ; and now, 
hand in hand, they entered the minister's 
room. 

There was a fire burning, and a lamp lit 
upon a table, so that the minister's face 
could be plainly seen, as they stole with 
tender caution to his side. 

It had been a pale face always, but it was 
very colorless now; the lids were closed 
lightly over the eyeballs, which seemed 
almost to burn and shine through them; 
and the lips, which might have been speak- 
ing words that seemed to bring his listeners 
almost into the presence of God, were locked 
in silence. Yet the face was full of life, 
which rippled underneath as it were, as if 
the colorless cheeks, and thin eyelids, and 
furrowed forehead were only a light mask; 
and while the children gazed upon it the 
lips moved slowly, but soundlessly. 

‘‘He is talking to God,” whispered Jessica, 
in a tone of awe. 

Jessica,” said Winny, pressing close to 
her, I can’t help thinking about Paul, when 
he was caught up into the third heaven and 
heard unspeakable words. I think perhaps 
he looked like my father.” 

She had never called him father before, 
and she uttered it in a strangely solemn 


66 


JESSICA 'S MO TIIER, 


voice, as if it was a more fitting title than 
the familiar one they had called him by on 
ordinary days. They stood beside him for 
a few minutes, and then they crept on tip- 
toe across to the hearth. The children read 
their chapter, and said their hymns, and 
sang a favorite one of their father’s, in soft, 
low tones which could scarcely have been 
heard outside the room; and the little time- 
piece over the fireplace chimed seven as 
they finished. 

“ It was just this time last Sunday,” said 
Jane, “ when papa had the stroke. He was 
just going to pray when the chapel-clock 
struck seven.” 

“ I wonder what he was going to say ?’* 
said Winny, sorrowfully. 

“Our Father!” murmured a voice be- 
hind them, very low and weak, like the 
voice of one who has only strength to utter 
a single cry ; and turning quickly, with a 
feeling of fear, they saw their father’s eyes 
opened, and looking towards them with in- 
expressible tenderness. Jessica laid her 
finger on her lips, as a sign to them to be 
still, and with timid courage she went to the 
minister’s side. 

“ Do you know us again ?” she asked, 
trembling between fear and joy: “do you 
know who we are, minister ?” 


JESSICA'S MOTHER. 


57 


^'Jessica, and my children/* he whis- 
pered, with a feeble smile fluttering upon 
his face. 

He is come back !’* cried Jessica, re- 
turning with swift but noiseless steps to 
Jane and Winny. Let us make haste and 
tell the others. Maybe he is hungry and 
weak and faint But he knows us — he is 
come back to us again.** 

In a few minutes the joyful news was 
known throughout the house, and was car- 
ried to the chapel before the evening service 
was over; and the congregation, as they 
dispersed, spoke of their minister*s recov- 
ery hopefully. It was the crowning glad- 
ness of the day to Daniel, and he lingered 
at the minister*s house, to which he has- 
tened as soon as he had closed the chapel, 
until it was getting on for midnight ; and 
then he left Jessica with the children, and 
started off for his home, with a heart in 
which joy was full. 


CHAPTER IX. 

THE GATE OF DEATH. " 

Daniel had a good way to go, for the 
minister’s house was in an opposite direc- 


58 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


tion to his own from the chapel. The No- 
vember fogs still hung about London, and 
the lamps gave only a dim light through the 
gloom. Those who were yet walking about 
the streets marched quickly, as if anxious to 
reach whatever shelter they called their own. 

Daniel himself was making his way as 
fast as he could along the muddy pavement, 
when he came to a part of the streets where 
the drainage was being repaired, and where 
charcoal fires were burning in braziers here 
and there, at once to give warning to the 
passers-by and to afford warmth to the 
watchmen who stayed beside them all 
night. One of the watchmen had brought 
an old door, and reared it up against a rude 
wall of stone and bricks, so as to form some 
protection from the rain, which now and 
then fell in short showers. 

He had quitted his shed for some reason 
or other, and as Daniel drew near his steps 
were arrested ; for crouching underneath it, 
and stretching out her shrivelled arms over 
the brazier full of charcoal, was Jessica’s 
mother. The fitful light was shining 
strongly upon her face, and showed the 
deep lines which misery and degradation 
had ploughed upon it and the sullenness 
and stupidity which were stamped upon her 
features. 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER, 


59 


He stood still, gazing at her with disgust; 
but very soon a feeling of profound pity 
took its place. He had been wondering 
what had become of her since Friday morn- 
ing, and had even felt a kind of anxiety 
about her ; and now, as he thought of the 
room with its comfortable bed which was 
waiting for her, instead of the brief shelter 
of the shed, he climbed over the heaps of 
rubbish which lay between them, calling to 
her, for he did not know her name, ‘‘Jessi- 
ca’s mother !” 

The woman started to her feet at the 
sound of his voice, and looked him full in 
the face with an expression of utter wretch- 
edness. Her eyes were inflamed and 
swollen with tears, and every feature was 
quivering as if she had no control over 
them. She was so miserable a creature 
that Daniel did not know in what words to 
speak to her; but his heart was moved 
with an unutterable compassion, unknown 
to him till now. 

Fie even felt a sympathy for her, as if he 
had once been in the same depths of de- 
gradation, as he looked down shudderingly 
into the deep abyss where she had fallen by 
her sins; and the sense of her misery 
touched him so closely that he would have 
given his life for her salvation. He stretched 


60 


JESSICA MOTHER. 


out his hand towards her, but she pushed it 
away, and with a groan of despair she fled 
from the light, and sought to hide herself in 
the darkness of the foggy streets. 

But Daniel was not easily turned aside 
from his desire to bring some help to Jes- 
sica’s mother, even if it were no more than 
to rescue her from the chilliness of the No- 
vember night. He followed her with steps 
as rapid as her own, and only that she had 
had the first start he would have been 
quickly at her side. She fled swiftly along 
the streets to escape from him, and he pur- 
sued her, hoping that she would soon 
weary, and would turn to speak to him. 

But she kept on until Daniel found him- 
self at the entrance of one of the old bridges 
of the city which span the wide waters of 
the river. Side by side with it a new bridge 
was being constructed, with massive beams 
of timber, and huge blocks of stone, and 
vast girders of iron, lying like some giant 
skeleton enveloped in the fog, yet showing 
dimly through it by the glare of red lights 
and blazing torches, which were kindled 
here and there, and cast flickering gleams 
upon the black waters beneath, into which 
Daniel looked down with a shiver, as he 
paused for a moment in his pursuit. 

But he had lost sight of the woman 


JESSICA MO THEE. 


61 


when he lifted up his eyes again, unless the 
strange dark figure on one of the great 
beams stretching over the river was the 
form of Jessica’s mother. He pressed to- 
wards it, quitting the safety of the old 
bridge; but, as a wild and very mournful 
cry smote upon his ear, he missed his foot- 
ing, and fell heavily upon a pile of masonry 
at some distance below him. 

It could only have been a minute that he 
was unconscious, for the deep-toned clock 
of St. Paul’s had chimed the first stroke of 
midnight as he lost footing, and the boom 
of the last stroke was still ringing through 
the air when he tried to raise himself and 
look again for the dark figure which he had 
seen hanging over the river; but he could 
not move, and he lay quietly, without mak- 
ing a second effort, and thinking clearly 
over what had happened. 

There was little doubt that the wretched 
woman, whom he had sought to save, had 
hurried away from all salvation, whether of 
God or man ; and yet how was it that, in- 
stead of the shock of horror, a perfect peace 
possessed his soul ? For a moment it 
seemed to him that he could hear a voice 
speaking, through the dull and monotonous 
splashing of the cold water against the 
arches below him, and it said to him, 


62 


JESSICA \S MOTHER, 


Because thou hast been faithful unto 
death, I will give thee a crown of life.’' 

Was he going to die ? he asked himself, 
as a pang of extreme agony ran through all 
his frame, and extorted a moan from his 
lips. He was ready and willing, if it was 
the will of God ; but he would like to see 
his little Jessica again and tell her gently 
with his own lips that her mother was 
dead, and gone — he could say nothing 
gentler — to her own place, which God 
knew of. 

The midnight hour was quieter than 
usual in the busy city, for it was Sunday 
and the night was damp ; so Daniel lay for 
some time before he heard the tread of a 
passer-by upon the bridge above him. He 
could hear many sounds at a little distance; 
but he could not raise his voice loudly 
enough to be audible through the splash of 
the waters. But as soon as he heard foot- 
steps upon the bridge he cried, with a 
strong effort, Help me, or I shall die be- 
fore morning ! ” 

It seemed a long time, and one of great 
suffering to him, before he was raised up 
and laid upon the smooth pathway of the 
bridge. But he did not cry out or groan; 
and as the little crowd which gathered 
around him spoke in tones of commiseration 


JESSICA ’5 MOTHER, 


63 


and kindness, he thanked them calmly, and 
with a cheerfulness which deceived them. 
They bore him to the nearest hospital, but 
as they would have laid him on a bed there 
he stopped them, with great energy and 
earnestness. 

Let the doctor see me first,'^ he said, 
‘‘and tell me whether I am likely to die or 
live." 

The doctor’s hand touched him, and 
there were a few questions put to him, 
which he answered calmly; and then, as 
the doctor looked down upon him with a 
grave face, he looked back with perfect 
composure. 

‘‘I’m a Christian man,’’ said Daniel, 
“and I’m not afraid to die. But if you 
think there’s no chance for me I’d rather 
go home. I’ve a little girl at home who’d 
like to be with me all the time till I’m 
taken away from her. The key of my 
house is in my pocket. Let me be taken 
home.’’ 

They could not refuse his request; but 
the doctor told him he might live yet for 
some days, though the injuries he had re- 
ceived gave no hope of his life ; to which 
Daniel replied only by a solemn smile. It 
was nearly morning before he reached his 
house, under the care of a nurse and a 


64 


JESSICA ’5 MOTHER. 


student from the hospital ; and thus he 
entered for the last time the home where 
he had spent the three happiest years of 
his life with Jessica. 


CHAPTER X. 

SPEAK OF HIS LOVE. 

For several days Daniel suffered great 
pain, but with such perfect peace and joy in 
his heart that it seemed as if he could 
scarcely realize or feel his bodily anguish. 
Jessica was with him constantly ; and when 
he was free from pain she read aloud to 
him, or talked with him of the heaven to 
which he was going, and which seemed to 
lie open to his gaze already, as one catches 
a glimpse from afar off some beautiful 
country basking in the glory of a full noon- 
tide sunshine. 

The chapel people came to see him, some 
of them in the carriages which of old used 
to set him pondering upon their riches; 
and they left him, marvelling that they had 
known so little of the religiousness of the 
man who had ushered them to their pews 
Sunday after Sunday. But as yet the 
minister had not visited him, though he 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER. 


65 


had sent him word that as soon as it was 
possible he would come to see him. 

The last day had arrived ; both Daniel 
and Jessica knew that it was the last day, 
and she had not stirred from his side since 
morning; and still the minister had not 
come — had not been able to come to the 
death-bed of his old friend. For they were 
old friends, having met many times a week 
for a dozen years in the same chapel; and 
since Jessica had drawn them closer to- 
gether the learned and eloquent preacher 
had cared for Daniel’s illiterate soul ; and 
the chapel-keeper had learned to pick up 
some crumbs of nourishment from the 
great feast which the minister prepared 
week after week for his intellectual congre- 
gation. He had not been, but Daniel was 
undisturbed, and so, patient and peaceful, 
with a smile upon his lips when he met 
Jessica’s wistful eyes, he waited for the last 
hour and the last moment to come. 

Yet before it was too late, and before his 
eye grew dim, and his tongue numbed with 
the chillness of death, the minister arrived, 
pale in face, and bowed down with weak- 
ness, and with a trembling voice which 
faltered often as he spoke. They clasped 
one another’s hands, and looked into one 
another’s face with a strange recognition, as 


66 


JESSICA MOTHER. 


if both had seen further into the other 
world than they had ever done before, and 
then the minister sank feebly into the chair 
beside Daniel’s pillow. 

I will rest here, and stay with you for 
an hour,” he said. 

It is the last hour,” answered Daniel. 

Be it so,” replied the minister. I too 
have looked death in the face.” 

They were silent for a while, while the 
minister rallied his strength, and then he 
bent his head, his head only, for he was too 
feeble yet to kneel beside the dying man, 
and he poured forth a prayer to God in his 
inmost heart, but with hesitating lips, which 
no longer uttered with ready speech the 
thoughts which thronged to his brain. 
The Amen with which he ended was almost 
a groan. 

** My power is taken from me,” he said ; 
the Almighty has stricken me in the pride 
of my heart. I shall never more speak as 
I used to do, of his glory and majesty, and 
the greatness of his salvation.” 

You can speak of his love,” murmured 
Daniel. 

‘‘ Yes,” he answered, despondently, ‘‘but 
only as a child speaks. I shall never stir 
the hearts of the congregation again. My 
speech will be contemptible.” 


JESSICA *S MOTHER. 


67 


Jessica, tell him what you and I have 
been talking about,” said Daniel. 

Jessica lifted up her face from the pillow, 
and turned it towards the minister, a smile 
struggling through her tears ; and though 
her voice was unsteady to begin it grew 
calm and clear before she had spoken 
many words. 

We were talking how he'd never be the 
chapel-keeper any more, and go up into the 
pulpit to carry the books before you ; and 
then we thought it was true, maybe, what 
the doctor says, that you'd never be well 
enough again to preach in such a big 
chapel ; and so we went on talking about 
the time when we shall all be in heaven. 
We said perhaps God would give you more 
beautiful thoughts there, and grander 
words, and you'd still be our minister; and 
the angels 'ud all come thronging up in 
crowds all about you and us to hearken to 
what you'd thought about Jesus Christ and 
about God ; and there'd be a great congre- 
gation again. Only whenever you were 
silent for a minute we could look up and 
see the Saviour himself listening to us 
all.” 

Then the minister bowed his pale face 
upon his hands ; but he did not answer a 
word. 


68 


JESSICA^ S MOTHER. 


There’s one thing still I want to say,” 
said Daniel. “ IVe made my will, and left 
all I had to Jessica; but I don’t know 
where she’ll find a home. If you’d look 
out for her ” 

‘'Jessica shall come home to me,” inter- 
rupted the minister, laying his hand upon 
hers and Daniel’s and clasping them both 
warmly. 

" I’m a Christian man,” whispered Dan- 
iel. “ I know that I love God, and that he 
has made me something like himself. 
There’s a verse about it in the Bible.” 

“ Beloved,” said the minister, “ ‘ now are 
we the sons of God, and it doth not yet 
appear what we shall be; but we know 
that, when he shall appear, we shall be 
like him ; for we shall see him as he is.’ ” 

There was no stammering of the minis- 
ter’s speech as he pronounced these words, 
and his face grew bright, as did the face of 
the dying man. Daniel’s mind wandered a 
little, and he groped about, as in the dark, 
for the Bible, which lay upon the bed ; and 
he murmured, 

" It’s time to take up the books, for the 
congregation is waiting, and the minister is 
ready. I will take them up to heaven.” 

He spoke no more ; but the Bible after a 
while fell from his hand ; and Jessica and 


JESSICA ^S MOTHER. 


69 


the minister, looking upon his face, saw 
that in heaven he was beholding the face of 
the Father. 

It proved true that the minister could 
never again preach a sermon such as in 
former times, when the people listened with 
strained attention, and he was to them as a 
very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant 
voice, and play eth well on an instrument; 
but they heard his words and did them not. 
Yet he was a man of calmer happiness than 
before; and in his quiet country home, 
where sometimes of a Sunday he mounted 
the pulpit-steps of a little chapel, and taught 
a simple congregation simple truths, he 
drew nearer day by day in spirit to the 
great congregation who were waiting for 
him, and before whom his lips should 
never more be silenced. 





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1 ETERNAL LIFE, by Professor Henry Drummond. 

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4 FAITH, by Thomas Arnold. 

6 THE CREATION STORY, by Honorable William B. Gladstone. 

6 THE MESSAGE OF COMFORT, by Rt. Rev. Ashton Oxenden. 

7 THE MESSAGE OF PEACE, by Rev. R. W. Church. 

8 THE LORD’S PRAYER AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, by 

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22 THE BEAUTY OF A LIFE OF SERVICE, by Rt. Rev. PhlUlps 

Brooks. 

23 THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD, by Rev. A.T.Pler8on,D.D. 

24 THOUGHT AND ACTION, by Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks. 

25 THE HEAVENLY VISION, by Rev. F. B. Meyer. 

26 MORNING STRENGTH, by Elisabeth R. Scovil. 

27 FOR THE QUIET HOUR, by Edith V. Bradt. 

28 EVENING COMFORT, by Elisabeth R. Scovil. 

29 WORDS OP HELP FOR CHRISTIAN GIRLS, by Rev. F. B. Meyer. 

30 HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE, by Itev. Dwight L. Moody. 

81 EXPECTATION CORNER, by E. 8. Elliot. 

32 JESSICA’S FIRST PRAYER, by Hesba Stretton. 

83 JESSICA’S MOTHER, by Hesba Stretton. 

84 THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD, by Henry Drummond. 

35 HOW TO LEARN HOW, by Henry Drummond. 

36 WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN ? THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE; A 

TALK ON BOOKS, by Henry Drummond. 


ALTEMUS* ETERNAL LIFE SERIES— Continued. 


87 PAX VOBISCXTM, bj Henry Drummond. 

88 THE CHANGED LIFE, by Henry Drummond. 

88 FIHST I A TALK WITH BOYS, by Henry Drummond. 


ALTEMUS* BELLES-LETTRES SERIES. 


A collection of Essays and Addresses by Eminent English 
and American Authors, beautifully printed 
and daintily bound, with original 
designs in silver inks. 

Price, 26 cents per volume. 


1 INDEPENDENCE DAY, by Rev. Edward E. Hale. 

2 THE SCHOLAR IN POLITICS, by Hon. Richard Olney. 

8 THE YOUNG MAN IN BUSINESS, by Edward W. Bok. 

4 THE YOUNG MAN AND THE CHURCH, by Edward W. Bok. 

6 THE SPOILS SYSTEM, by Hon. Carl Schura. 

6 CONVERSATION, by Thomas DeQulncey. 

7 SWEETNESS AND LIGHT, by Matthew Arnold. 

8 WORK, by John Ruskln. 

8 NATURE AND ART, by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

10 THE USE AND MISUSE OP BOOKS, by Frederic Harrison, 
a THE MONROE DOCTRINE : ITS ORIGIN, MEANING AND 
APPLICATION, by Prof. John Bach McMaster (University of 
Pennsylvania) 

13 THE DESTINY OF MAN, by Sir John Lubbock. 

13 LOVE AND PRIEN DSHIP, by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

14 RIP VAN WINKLE, by Washington Irving, 

15 ART, POETRY AND MUSIC, by Sir John Lubbock. 

16 THE CHOICE OF BOOKS, by Sir John Lubbock. 

17 MANNERS, by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

18 CHARA(JTER, by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

19 THE LEGEN DOF SLEEPY HOLLOW, by Washington Irving. 

20 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE, by Sir John Lubbock. 

21 SELF RELIANCE, by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

22 THE DUTY OF HABPINESS, by Sir John Lubbock. 

23 SPIRITUAL LAWS, by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

24 OLD CHRISTMAS, by Washington Irving. 

26 HEALTH, WEALTH AND THE BLESSING OF FRIENDS, by 
Sir Jolin J^ubbock. 

26 INTELLECT, by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

27 WHY AMEKK ANS DiSLIKE ENGLAND!* by Prof. George B. 

Adams (Yale). 

28 THE HIGHER EDUCATION AS A TRAINING FOR BUSINESS, 

by Prof. Harry Pratt Judson (University of Chicago). 

29 MISS TOOSEY’S MISSION. 

30 LADDIE. 

31 J. COLE, by Emma Gelllbrand. 



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